Tips on Hiring a Moving Company You Can Trust

Written by BREC on 02 October 2017.

Starting a life in a new home? Then you'll need to know how to choose movers—and not just any dude with a van, but someone you can trust. After all, these pros will be handling your prized possessions. Before you watch your beloved items disappear into the back of a strange truck, heed this advice from experts on how to read between the lines of moving reviews, check their license and background, and all in all do your due diligence so you can move in and on with your life without a hitch.

How to check a mover's license and insurance

Any company that does moves within your state must have a state license to operate—and should be happy to show you proof. If you’re moving out of state, you’ll need a mover who also has a unique license number issued by the United States Department of Transportation (you can search for that here). On that same website, you can verify that your potential movers are up to date on insurance.

How to read moving reviews

One way to whittle down your options is to read online moving reviews—on Yelp and other sites—to get a sense of how well (or not) they've satisfied clients in the past. Don’t just look at the ‘star rating’ but how many reviews a company has. Other online tools you can use include Angie's List, Thumbtack, or Home Advisor. And don’t forget the old school standard, the Better Business Bureau. A quick online search will let you know if your movers have any outstanding complaints.

Get an in-house estimate

Although an “over the phone” estimate sounds dreamily convenient, it’s also a red flag. You need an actual human being to take a look at your belongings in real life.

“Not surprisingly, most people are clueless at estimating how much stuff they have,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “Telling— versus showing—a mover you have a three-bedroom home doesn’t indicate if those rooms are minimally furnished or packed to the gills.”

If a mover insists that an in-person estimate isn’t necessary, it may not have the experience you want.

Don't just go for the cheapest movers

As you start talking to movers, you’ll see that prices vary a lot. To increase the chances of your belongings getting from Point A to Point Z intact, go with a company that has the proper equipment, and packing materials. Even if a mover initially seems outside your budget, often there’s room to negotiate.

Still can’t swallow the cost of full-service movers—but loath to hire a random crew off Craigslist? Not to worry. You still have reputable options. Sites such as HireAHelper and MovingHelp allow you to rent your own moving truck, then carefully choose a crew to assist with the loading and unloading. Problem (carefully) solved!

Source. Stephanie Booth's stories have appeared in magazines such as Real Simple, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Psychology Today. Follow @stephanieBbarth